FAITH CAPSULE: Trusting God is resting in the face of challenge.

2 Samuel 5:17-25, Daniel 6

It is written, “Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?’ And the LORD said to David, ‘Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.’” (2 Samuel 5:17-19)
As strong as David was, by the grace of God upon his life, he did not act against the Philistines without seeking God. Seeking God in the face of challenge is an evidence of trust in God. Trusting God is resting in the face of challenge. David’s enemies were not at rest when they went searching for David. Resting on the Lord is waiting on Him by inquiring from Him on a regular basis.
David, having known to trust and rest on the word of God, went and engaged his enemies in battle. The Bible documents it, “So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, ‘The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.’ Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.” (2 Samuel 5:20) God backing up His word for David was the breaking power over David’s enemy at Baal Perazim.
Trusting God is giving God His due attention. Giving God attention will always provoke the hand of God to favor those who give Him attention. A man that spends time in the presence of God before engaging daily agenda is one that knows to trust and rest in the Lord. God is a jealous God and the antidote for jealousy is giving attention to Him. To establish a custom way of approaching God will make up giving God a consistent attention. As a believer, there is a need to desire the grace to be constant and consistent inquiring from the Lord.
Just like David, Daniel’s victory over the plot to terminate him for not worshiping a false God was a result of his established custom. Daniel 6:10 identifies Daniel’s custom, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” Daniel trusted God and maintained his rest in God despite his challenge. Daniel overcame and was victorious.

Prayer for today:  Ask God for your deliverance and preservation in every area of life.